Brooke Martin
Candling is a method used to check whether a chicken egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see its interior without cracking the shell. The term candling comes from the traditional practice of using a candle as a light source, but nowadays, a strong flashlight or specialized equipment like the Cool-Lite Tester can be used. Candling is typically done in a dark room, and it's recommended to candle eggs at least three times during incubation to monitor development and identify non-viable eggs. The process is simple and only requires a few supplies and minutes of your time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To check if an egg is fertile and developing properly |
| Equipment | A dark room, a bright light, and the egg |
| Timing | Before placing eggs in the incubator, then 6-8 days after, and finally about a week later. Can be done every day, but avoid after 14 days. |
| Indicators of Fertility | Dark spot (embryo) with visible veins, darker interior, less light passing through, continued movement |
| Indicators of Infertility | Clear inside, no veins or dark spots, ring of red, lack of development compared to other eggs |
| Other Tips | Wash hands before and after handling eggs, return eggs to the incubator in the same position, candle from the rounded end of the egg, perform "sniff test" for dark eggs |
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What You'll Learn
How to identify a fertile egg
Candling is a method used to check if a chicken egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what's inside without cracking it open. The term "candling" comes from the traditional practice of using candles, but nowadays, a strong flashlight works just fine.
To candle chicken eggs properly, follow these steps:
Prepare the Eggs
Collect the eggs in the morning to protect them from dirt and predators. Choose medium-sized eggs, as smaller eggs may not have enough space for the yolks and shell, while larger eggs may contain twins, resulting in neither embryo surviving. Store new eggs for about a week at a temperature between 53°F-59°F (11.6°C-15°C). During this time, turn the eggs once a day by 45° each turn. This helps prevent the yolk from floating and touching the membranes, which could hinder embryo growth.
Set Up the Candling Environment
Candling should be done in a dark room to better observe the contents of the egg. Wash your hands before handling the eggs to ensure they are clean and dry. Oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the eggshell and deprive the embryo of oxygen.
Examine the Eggs
After about a week of incubation, place each egg onto an egg candler or hold it up to a bright light source with the narrow end of the egg against the light. You should be able to see shadows and identify fertile eggs by a dark dot (the embryo) and spider-like veins spreading around the egg. Rotate the egg to get a better view, as the embryo may be in the centre or on the opposite side. If you still can't see the embryo clearly, wait a couple of days before trying again.
Identify Fertile Eggs
Fertile eggs will show a small dark spot, which is the embryo, along with red or dark veins branching out and a visible air sac. By day 14, a healthy chick will occupy most of the egg, resulting in a darker interior and less light passing through. Infertile eggs, on the other hand, will remain clear, with no veins or dark spots.
Handle Non-Viable Eggs
If an egg is non-viable (infertile or showing early death), remove it from the incubator. Non-viable eggs can rot and explode, contaminating other eggs and the incubator. A thin ring around the inside of the egg indicates early death, where the embryo died within a few hours or the first week of incubation.
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How to candle eggs before incubation
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to see its contents without breaking the shell. It is a good idea to candle eggs before they go into the incubator to check their quality. This can be done around day 5 or 6 of incubation, or even earlier if using a commercial egg candler.
To candle eggs, wash your hands to minimise the risk of transferring bacteria to the eggs. Then, go into a dark or dimly lit room and remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time, working quickly so that the eggs are out of the incubator for no longer than 5-10 minutes. Place a light on the bigger, more rounded end of the egg, where the air sac forms. Rotate the egg slightly to get the best seal and view of the inside.
Fertile eggs will have a small embryo forming, which will appear as a dark outline at the centre of the blood vessels. You may even see the dark eyes of the embryo or slight movement. These are known as "winners". Infertile eggs, or "yolkers", will appear clear without any signs of development, blood vessels, or a dark embryo. They will glow when candled.
If you are having trouble viewing the contents of the egg, turn off more lights or go into a darker room. You can candle eggs every day if you wish, but avoid doing so once the eggs have been in the incubator for 11-14 days as this disrupts embryo movement.
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How to candle eggs from the side
Candling is a simple method used to check if a chicken egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what's going on inside without cracking it open. The term "candling" comes from the old-school practice of using candles as a light source, but nowadays, a strong flashlight or a specially designed egg candling device works just fine.
When candling from the side, it is still possible to see the embryo well, especially in the early stages of development. However, as the chick grows, it becomes harder to see inside the egg, and candling from the air cell (the rounded end of the egg) becomes more effective. Nevertheless, candling from the side won't harm the embryo, and it can still provide valuable information.
To candle eggs from the side, follow these steps:
- Set up your candling equipment in a dark room close to the incubator. The darker the room, the better you will be able to see what's inside the egg.
- Select an egg from the incubator and hold it gently above the light source. Ensure your hands are clean and dry to avoid transferring oil or bacteria to the egg.
- Hold the egg near the top, between your thumb and forefinger. Tilt the egg slightly to one side and rotate it until you get the best view.
- Look for signs of fertility and development. A fertile egg will typically show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red veins branching out and a visible air sac. As the chick grows, it will occupy more space inside the egg, making it darker with less light passing through.
- Mark each egg with a number and take notes on your findings. This will help you compare results over time and track the development of each egg.
- Return the egg to the incubator within 20 to 30 minutes to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels for the embryo.
Remember, candling from the side is most effective in the early stages of incubation. As the chick develops, consider candling from the air cell end for a clearer view. Additionally, while candling can provide valuable insights, it is important to handle the eggs gently and minimise the time they are out of the incubator to avoid harming the embryos' development.
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What to do if you can't see inside a dark egg
Candling chicken eggs is a simple method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what's going on inside without cracking it open. The darker the room, the better. It will help you see the egg contents.
If you can't see inside a dark egg, try candling in a completely dark room at night. The less light pollution you have in the room, the better you will be able to make out what's going on inside the egg. You can also try turning the egg so that it is point down and air sac up. Sometimes, shifting the orientation of the egg can make a difference and help you see enough to observe signs of life inside the egg.
Dark-shelled eggs, such as Marans, are much harder to see through, so you will need the brightest light source you can get. You can practice candling light eggs first or incubate with lighter-colored eggs, and then you will have a comparison.
If all else fails, try "the sniff test." This involves smelling the eggs to make sure there is no foul odor or oozing coming from the eggs, signifying bacterial overgrowth. Any stinky eggs should be removed from the incubator and disposed of.
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How to know if an egg has gone bad
It is important to know how to identify a bad egg, as eating one could cause an unpleasant stomach upset or, in rare cases, salmonella poisoning. Salmonella is very rare, with estimates ranging from one in every 10,000-30,000 eggs being infected.
One way to test for freshness is the float test. Fill a bowl with cool water and gently place the egg in the water. If the egg is fresh, it will sink to the bottom and lie on its side. If it is less fresh but still edible, it will sink but stand upright at the bottom. An egg that floats is likely bad and should be discarded. This happens because eggshells are porous, so the older an egg gets, the more air penetrates the shell, causing it to float.
You can also test an egg's freshness by shaking it. If the yolk is moving around inside, the egg is likely fine. If it has a uniform feel when shaken, it may have gone bad.
Another way to test an egg is to crack it into a bowl and examine its appearance and smell. A fresh egg will have thick, opaque egg whites and a domed yolk. A bad egg will have watery, discoloured egg whites and a flat yolk. It will also smell rotten and sulfurous.
If an egg has cracks in its shell, a slimy or powdery exterior, or a cloudy coating, it is likely contaminated with bacteria or mould and should be thrown away.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is a simple method used to check if a chicken egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what’s going on inside without cracking it open.
You need a dark room, a bright light source (such as a flashlight), and the egg you intend to candle.
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling the eggs. Place the narrow/rounded end of the egg gently against the light in a dark room.
It is recommended to candle eggs at least 3 times during incubation to monitor air cell development. The first candling should take place before placing the eggs in the incubator, and the next candling takes place 6-8 days after they are placed in the incubator. The final candling takes place about a week later.
If the egg is fertile, you will see a dark shape (the embryo) and spider-like veins around Day 6-7. By Day 14, a healthy chick should take up most of the egg, making the interior darker with less light passing through. If the egg is infertile, it will appear clear with no veins or dark spots.
